Phrases › Venda
Phrases
Early draft: There was little reliable source material for this language, so some lines may be wrong. Check with a speaker before relying on them.
In Venda, hello is Ndaa and thank you is Ndo livhuwa. Here are 15 everyday Venda phrases with pronunciation, for travel and a first conversation.
How to say hello in Venda · How to say thank you in Venda · How to say goodbye in Venda · How to say please in Venda · How to say sorry in Venda
| English | Venda |
|---|---|
| Hello | Ndaa Said by men; women say "Aa". Time-of-day greetings (Ndi matsheloni/masiari/madekwana) are also very common. |
| Goodbye | Kha vha sale Lit. "stay well" (said to the one staying); "Vha tshimbile zwavhudi" (go well) is said to the one leaving. |
| Please | Ndi khou tou humbela Used before a request; "khou humbela" = am asking. |
| Thank you | Ndo livhuwa "Ro livhuwa" = we thank you; add "nga maanda" for "thank you very much". |
| Yes | Ee |
| No | Hai |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Ndi khou humbela pfarelo Lit. "I'm asking for forgiveness"; for "excuse me" to pass, "Tshiimo tsha shishi" is used. |
| I don't understand | A thi pfesesi |
| Please speak slowly | Ndi humbela uri vha ambe nga u ongolowa |
| How much is it? | Zwi ita vhugai? Also "Izwi zwi dura vhugai?" (how expensive is this). |
| I'd like this, please | Ndi khou humbela iyi Lit. "I'm asking for this". |
| Where is …? | ... i ngafhi? Fill the gap with the place name; "ngafhi" asks about a permanent location, "gai" about where something/someone currently is. |
| Help! | Thuso! |
| Call the police! | Ndi humbela uri vha founele mapholisa! |
| I don't speak Venda | A thi ambi Tshivenda Negative of 'ndi amba' (I speak); the file's 'I don't understand' also starts with 'A thi' |
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